Monday Medical

Studies have shown that individuals who review the ABCDE(U) criteria and who review photos of melanomas are better able to detect melanomas.

ABCDE(U) criteria

Asymmetry: Half the lesion does not match the other half

Border irregularity: Edges are notched, blurred, etc.

Color variation: Pigment is not uniform; more than one color

Diameter: Greater than 6 mm

Evolving: Changing

Ugly duckling: Lesion looks different from the rest

Two-thirds of melanomas are detected by the patient and only a third by a doctor. You can’t say that about colon, lung or prostate cancer.

Melanomas are almost always visible. You have the opportunity to look at your skin more often than anyone else, so learn what to look for. Studies have shown that individuals who review the ABCDE(U) criteria and who review photos of melanomas are better able to detect melanomas.

Skin screening by a health care provider is associated with detection of thinner (more treatable) melanomas. Individuals with risk factors for melanoma should be screened. Risk factors include:

• Personal history of melanoma

• Family history of melanoma

• Numerous moles

• History of atypical moles

• Fair skin, red hair and blue eyes

• Indoor tanning

• History of severe sunburns

Most screening involves visual detection and, sometimes, serial photographic documentation to detect changes throughout time. There are newer techniques such as dermoscopy that may improve accuracy of detecting melanomas.

For prevention, you have two goals — choose your parents well and keep ultraviolet light off your skin.

• Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds.

• Generously apply a broad spectrum sunscreen daily to skin with an SPF of 30 or higher. Look for zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or Heliolpex in the active ingredients.

• Reapply every two to four hours and after swimming or sweating. Be lavish in your application, or the benefit will be diminished.